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Original poster

North Facing gardens

46 replies

Nearlytherenext · 12/02/2021 16:47

I've never had a North facing garden, we have always managed to get a South or West facing.

Our dream house has just come on the market, it looks lovely. But it's a North facing garden.

It's a new build, so the garden is fairly small. 10 meters long.

Anyone who has N facing garden, please can you tell me, will the garden be in shade all day?

OP posts:
shalo2 · 12/02/2021 16:52

Yes my first house was a north facing and was shaded and I didn’t really like or use it (also was a new build so no character)
If the garden is important to you and you enjoy relaxing in the sun then it’s a major consideration.
I now live in a house with full south facing garden and wouldn’t have it any other way. My children love getting the pool out and it’s glorious in the sun.

PrettyAutumnLeaves · 12/02/2021 16:56

I think a North facing garden is great if it is long, then you can choose between shade or sun. But I wouldn't go for a house with a small North facing garden.

WineIsMyCarb · 12/02/2021 17:00

I have a north facing garden and live in Yorkshire. It's a short, wide garden so the patio near the house is always in shade. This needs pressure washing twice a year, not least because our plum tree drops muck on it. That's the downside. The upside is that when it was really hot in the summer the children had shade, and we could move the table either into sun or shade dependent on the temp. The section of garden further from the house is in sun most of the day. We are looking to get some outdoor sofas and a fire pit in the summer for the shaded patio to use in the garden in the evening - everywhere is shaded when it's dark!

Overall I'd say if you aren't a keen gardener and it's just for drinking wine/coffee, faff with some pots and the children to play then don't let it hold you back!

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Original poster
Nearlytherenext · 12/02/2021 17:03

Thank you everyone. Seems to be much of what I thought.

It's a short, but wide garden. 10m 'long' and 15m 'wide' (sounds backwards to say it like that)

I love the sun. But I am very cautious about burning/tanning.

I think it might be worth seeing the house and asking to have a look at the garden to.

OP posts:
Carycy · 12/02/2021 17:41

I had a small north facing garden for my first house. I hated it. Even in the height of summer it was in darkness when I got home from work. It was so depressing. I used to traipse out of the house to find a bit of sun as nowhere to sit at the front.

Makes me so cross developers don’t take this into consideration. There is a news estate near us and they have all been built with north facing gardens. Prob coz they could get one more house squeezed on that way.

Don’t touch with a barge pole.

DinosApple · 12/02/2021 17:44

Look at the house. At the moment it will be almost as shaded as it will ever get. So that will give you a bit of an idea.

Our last house had a north garden - and was shady from September to May for drying washing purposes. The back fence caught the sun a lot more.

Our current home - has a north facing garden too- but more of a wrap around so a bit on the south side. We're quite happy with that as the best of both.

longtompot · 12/02/2021 17:47

If you have a look at it now, ie when the sun is at it's lowest and at its least in a garden, then you can decide if there is enough sun or light getting into it.
We have about a 25m long garden which is nw facing and we get a decent amount of sun and light into it. The only bit we don't is the half closest to the house and that's in the winter time. In the summer the garden gets a decent amount all day. It's quite nice to have shaded areas as it can get a bit too hot sometimes.

Coffeeandcocopops · 12/02/2021 17:50

The sun is not in my garden after about 5pm in the summer. Mainly because the garden is small and on an estate. So as the sun drops it gets hidden by neighbours house.

speakout · 12/02/2021 17:58

I think other posters have made good points.
I have a North facing garden, downside of course is that no sun at the back of the house, but the fence opposite my kitchen is south facing, so great for planting climbers, sun loving plants etc, and makes for a good display.
If your garden is large enough you will get some sun, and mostly kids don't really care, - it's the adults that like to sit in the evening sunshine.

It is a factor, but only one of many considerations when buying a house.
I would have preferred a south facing garden, but other things came into play- house was in immaculate condition, an amazing area- a place I have wanted to stay for a long while, huge interior, quiet area, low noise, minimal traffic, great price, near work etc, etc.

I think unless we are super rich there is always some compromise to be made when we buy a house.

It's about balancing all the factors.

fahlala · 12/02/2021 18:06

No if you are used to South or West and love sun especially later in the day don't bother I would not buy another house unless it was South or West facing but I worship the sun and want it until there's none left in the sky

speakout · 12/02/2021 18:13

fahlala

At any cost though?

Would you reject an otherwise perfect house at a bargain price just because of aspect?
I have a house with a North facing garden.
It also has a sun room with huge West facing windows. Looking out at no other buildings means we can sit on a summer evening and watch the sunset on the horizon- which is after10pm in the summer months.
I am happy with that.

CoronaIsWatching · 12/02/2021 18:13

Personally I wouldn't consider it. I like to sit out as much as possible in the evenings from April to September. Just wouldn't be possible in a small north facing garden. Couldn't have evening bbq's etc. Nothing would grow apart from ferns and a few select plants, nothing with impressive flowers. Can't grow tomatoes etc.

fahlala · 12/02/2021 18:17

Speak out (don't know how to reply directly sorry) yes absolutely I wouldn't look at a house unless it was South or West facing garden but everyone's different the garden and sun is my passion yours sounds lovely though

speakout · 12/02/2021 18:17

CoronaIsWatching but you can.
Surely a north facing garden just means the aspect relating to your house?
The other end of your garden ( the opposite wall) will by logic be south facing. Unless your garden is tiny then that opposite wall is perfect for flower beds, fruit, deck chairs BBQ, sunbathing.
You don;t have to have all that activity within 5 metres of your house

Thewinterofdiscontent · 12/02/2021 18:22

It will depend on what overshadows it. My front garden is North facing and honestly would get enough morning sun in summer if it weren’t for the other houses blocking it.

My back garden is full South. However as someone else said it get no sun after 5pm as the sun is in the west and blocked by a neighbours tree and fence.
I was one of the first in the estate and the trees and fences were all low, They’ve all grown and hence I don’t get the long sunny evening regardless of direction.

PompomDahlia · 12/02/2021 18:26

I think the issue is if the garden isn’t long enough then it will all be shade.

This would be an absolute deal breaker for me. It also means the garden being a bit more damp and the rooms facing onto the garden potentially being darker. As quite a few pp have mentioned that it would put them off, it could also affect potential resale if this isn’t your forever home

DavidsSchitt · 12/02/2021 18:29

No, I wouldn't give up my sunshine

Tumbleweed101 · 12/02/2021 18:54

Slightly different but my mum had a north facing flat once. It only got sun into the flat during the summer for a couple of hours just after dawn. It was always dark and cold in the flat even in summer. Will the house have main rooms that will face north as well as the garden? Probably not such an issue if you have plenty of south facing main rooms.

Personally I would prefer south or west facing gardens. I currently have east and west gardens which I love as can get shade in the east one if too hot but can enjoy the evening sun after work in summer.

Pootle40 · 12/02/2021 18:55

It will in the winter but not in the Summer. The sun has just re- entered our garden. By March (on a nice day) we can sit on our decking in sun.

Pootle40 · 12/02/2021 18:56

We don't have a big garden by the way.

Original poster
Nearlytherenext · 13/02/2021 08:32

Hmm I think my DH is going to be hard to convince. He has his heart set on this house

It has the kitchen/family room facing north (runs along the back of house)

The living room face South.

From looking at the development layout, other houses would completely block sun in the morning (East).

But there are no other houses (a hedge and fields) west. So it might get some sun in the afternoon.

We definitely need to ask to see the garden on a sunny day

OP posts:
randomsabreuse · 13/02/2021 08:36

Clear to the west is most useful I think. Last garden was east facing and long, the far end got the evening sun and was great. Current garden is tiny and east facing with houses to the South. Is crap.

jalopy · 13/02/2021 09:25

The other thing to consider is what rooms will be facing north too. Most likely the kitchen, for a start. Couldn't cope with a sunless room too.

peak2021 · 13/02/2021 11:12

I agree about considering which rooms face north and visiting on a sunny day.

Kpo58 · 13/02/2021 11:38

I have a tiny North facing garden. You can only dry washing in it for 6 months of the year and then only between certain hours.

However, it's really nice to sit in as it's always shaded in the afternoon during the height of summer when it's too hot to sit out in full sun. Also means less suncream is needed if you hate wearing it.

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